Japan and Nigeria are both taking steps to reshape their education funding landscapes, promote social justice, drive economic development, and foster industrial growth. In Japan, the government has established a new national endowment fund with a ¥10 trillion loan to support university research and generate a 3% annualized return above inflation. The fund will be overseen by professional asset managers and aims to foster a conducive environment for groundbreaking research and development. This initiative comes at a time when Japan's economy is experiencing a rebound and there is growing optimism about the country's prospects for sustained growth [65dfa059].
In Nigeria, the government has launched the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to provide affordable and accessible education financing to students from low-income backgrounds. The program offers interest-free loans and flexible repayment terms to remove financial barriers to higher education. The NELFUND aims to address educational inequality and empower marginalized communities, promoting social justice and economic development in the country [6473dba5].
Additionally, Nigeria is also focusing on industrial development through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI). Established in 1992, NASENI aims to establish and nurture a dynamic Science and Engineering Infrastructure base for achieving home-initiated and home-sustained industrialization. The agency has recently focused on full commercialization of its resources, making them available in the market to end users. NASENI has unveiled various technological products manufactured in collaboration with its partners, including solar irrigation systems, electric vehicles, home solar systems, animal feed milling machines, laptops, smartphones, solar streetlamps, and lithium batteries. NASENI is also promoting the development of digital technologies and carrying out additive manufacturing using 3D printing and other advanced manufacturing technologies. The agency will continue to play crucial roles in Nigeria's economic transformation, supporting infrastructure development, driving technological advancement through R&D, and fostering economic growth [8ff68d8b].
Furthermore, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr Khalil Halilu, has been honored with the award for Engineering and Industrial Innovation at the 2nd edition of the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service. The award was presented by the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. The presentation ceremony took place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Under Halilu's leadership, NASENI has witnessed transformational reforms, including the development of cutting-edge technologies, the promotion of sustainable industrial practices, and the fostering of strategic partnerships with leading industry players. Halilu expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, and the entire NASENI team in his acceptance speech. The award sets a benchmark for future endeavors aimed at driving technological and industrial innovation in Nigeria and beyond. NASENI remains committed to fostering sustainable development through technological innovation [5a416d27] [8ff68d8b].
In a related development, Seplat Energy JV has donated Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Labs to Edo Boys High School and New Era College in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria [1bc288fc]. The donation is part of the Seplat Innovators Programme (SIP) and aims to improve the quality of education by promoting STEAM learning. The labs are designed to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovative skills among students. The Commissioner for Education, Edo State, Joan Oviawe, commended Seplat Energy for its commitment to empowering the next generation and expressed gratitude for the donation. The event was attended by stakeholders from the education and energy sectors [1bc288fc].